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Interlude: Boiling Point

"Betrayal is common in a society based on superiority over one another but it is never easy to deal with nor does that stop it from hurting. We must simply be the better. Instead of being the victim, we are should be the person to extend the hand of forgiveness."

_ _

Jeffrey Matthews Arnold

From a Speech given at Atlas

_ _

Forgotten Island

Ask me if I trust James Canis.

Go on, ask.

I didn't.

It's not out of anything he's actually said or done. I just didn't like him. I saw the way he and Jacob looked at each other. They pretended that they were friends, which was just a thinly veiled attempt to hide the plots they were cooking up to embarrass the other which was just a slightly thicker veil to hide their true love for one another. It was a complex relationship and I think that's the best kind.

But I just didn't like him.

Was it because he was brash, mouthy and had a foul attitude?

Maybe. Max was like that though and I tolerated him. Jacob was no better when he discovered Balthazar was to blame for the majority of his misfortunes. Both examples were severely damaged men who lashed out at society but where Jacob got better, Max was just scared and maintained his grouchy façade because that was what he knew best.

Canis was similarly damaged.

So why did I not like him when I could endure Max's griping and considered Jacob to be one of, if not my best friend?

I don't know what it is. I just don't like him.

The Alsatian turned to me from where we rode on Behemoth's back. "What?"

I might as well come clean with it. "I don't like you."

He rolled his blue eyes at me and turned back towards the lapping waves. It was a perfectly clear day so the ocean was relatively calm. Behind us, Taylor flew in the air with Leo and Kerry on board one of the mighty ships from Sierra's fleet. With the salty winds whipping past us, I had to admit there was a certain... charm to him. He was handsome in some ways but too big for my taste. Especially in the special pressure-sensitive swimsuit he wore. I like girls and I like girly-girls. He was too beefy.

Was that why I didn't like him? Because he was a guy?

"I don't need your approval," he growled.

He said 'your'. Not 'anyone's'.

"So whose approval do you need?"

His hackles rose, his tail suddenly on edge. "No one's_!_"

Bad move there, sergeant. I gave him my best 'Come on, don't lie to me' look. He met my gaze with a, 'Don't go there' look topped off with a 'Or I'll rip out your heart' growl.

I saw through it all.

"You really love him, don't you?"

There was a slight twitch to his right eye. "And you're being the overprotective den mother with the desire to quietly guide your pups to the path you want, AKA, joining the Rebellion."

"I didn't hear you deny it."

"You neither."

"I'm not trying to hide it," I countered. "The Branded could really help the Rebellion. We'd free Mortaelis from MODD."

"Damn hippy," Canis growled, turning his gaze away. "And for the record, yes, I do..."

I leaned forward, grinning from ear to ear. "You do... what?"

"Will you just shut up and get ready to dive?" He pulled on his helmet on. I did the same and gave Behemoth the mental command to start the dive.

My Animus let out a soft rumble of acknowledgement and dove. We both gripped onto one of the many spikes on his back. Behemoth made the descent nice and slow. Our suits were heavy and were designed to prevent us from succumbing to the pressure of the deep sea diving. We'd have to let go about halfway down to Triton. Behemoth would try to lead the Unsealed towards us.

Unfortunately for Canis, our helmets had communicators.

"You can't say it, can you?"

No response.

"You love him but you just can't tell him that," I laughed. "Oh my god! You think you're so badass, don't you? And I bet you're afraid that your precious image will be shattered if you said something as sappy as 'I love you' to the big, fluffy puppy that is Jacob Reaper."

"Fluffy puppy? You really think Jake is a 'fluffy puppy'?"

"Awww... You're calling him by his nickname! Did you know he used to hate that nickname until Rex started using it? We still call him 'Jay' but I think if we switched, he wouldn't mind."

"Whatever. Look, Reaper is far from a fluffy puppy. He's a stone-cold manipulative bastard."

"And you love him for it," I responded with a smirk. I could actually hear him swear in his helmet. "Look, love him all you want but I still don't like you. Might be because you're MODD through and through. Might be because you tore down one of my best friends just because Max decided he wanted Leo -"

"You knew about that!?"

I laughed. "Honey, I practically squeezed it out of Max."

"Then why didn't you do anything to stop him from roping me into tearing Reaper apart!"

"Firstly, I didn't know that was what he was planning." She wagged a finger at him. "And don't tell me that you didn't want this to happen. I know your type, James Canis, you enjoy other people's misery because you can't be happy yourself."

And there it was. The reason why I didn't like him.

We were polar opposites, him and I. Where I derived my happiness from those of others, he got a sick satisfaction from whenever he saw others crumble. But worse than that, he was falling in love and finding his own happiness while I languished in my pit of eternal despair trying to enjoy the joy around me.

I was jealous.

Jealous because Canis and Jacob were finding their happiness and jealous that Jacob had found his joy without my help... after I tried so hard.

"Don't pretend like you know me," Canis sneered. "But I know you_. I bet -"_

I held up my paw. "Hold that thought." Behemoth's low rumble rippled through the ocean. "I think they're coming. Get your powers ready." I already had my sai out and was slowly swirling the water around me. Beside me, Canis just looked a little confused as he paddled in the water.

Awww, pure cute puppy. All that bluster and he can't even summon his powers. I was tempted to give him a very patronising lecture but I sensed Behemoth's distress. Going up against two enormous Unsealed would have unnerved anyone. I urged him to lead them to the surface. But... I don't know. I think I heard him... say it wasn't the Unsealed?

Maybe 'felt' is the more appropriate word.

I found my eyes shut without my consent and images were flashing before my eyes. Jacob and Rex... They were... running. But back towards the elevator. There was gunfire everywhere. An explosion. I saw ANVIL troops running through the glass tunnels of Triton, getting ready to cut them off. I wanted to scream at them to escape but then I saw what was chasing them.

Drowned... At least, think they were. They were kids with eerie, glowing, green eyes and whoever they came across, they ploughed through and tore to shreds with their teeth!

My first thought was 'Evil Cannibal Children!'

My second was, "We need to help them!"

"What?"

"I don't know... I think Jacob and Rex are in trouble."

The soft, resounding boom that hit us was evidence enough. I angled myself towards the soft, blinking lights in the distant depths of the ocean and kicked up the engines. My suit propelled me forward. It was a slow descent and I sorely wished I had just hung onto Behemoth. But the plan dictated that we wait closer to the surface. Any slight rupture in our suits and we'd be crushed by the overwhelming pressure of the deep sea.

Behemoth let out a roar. It sounded like a moan in my ears but in my eyes, it was a terrible, frightening roar. He was facing off the multi-headed Hydra and the mighty Leviathan. I could see the fight in my mind's eye, somehow. Like I could see it through his eyes. Maybe I was going crazy but I just... saw it. I don't really know what to say. Maybe there's something to be said about me calling Behemoth a 'he' instead of an 'it'. Was he really alive?

I winced softly when I pictured my Animus getting caught by Leviathan in a tight grip only to be bitten by each of Hydra's multiple heads.

"What's wrong?"

"Behemoth... He's in trouble."

"You can feel that?"

"I don't know... There's a theory..." I sighed softly when I saw my Animus lash out with his thick, mighty tail, knocking Hydra away. His powerful claws raked across Leviathan's chest and sent it reeling back. "I talked with Max and we both think that our Animus represent an aspect of our core personalities. Max's Eden is like his desire to find where he belongs and Behemoth to me is my desire to change the world. Something like that. I don't know. Can we just please get to Triton?"

We travelled in relative silence. Triton became clearer through the murk. The lights from our suits and the station guided our way. Some ways off to our right, I saw the shadows of the three colossal monsters fighting. Though there was no physical pain, I could feel every strike Behemoth endured to keep us from being hurt. I mentally commanded him to make sure the moment we were in the station, that he head straight to the surface and take the battle there.

He confirmed it, I think.

"We should be able to get in from the docking bay if it's not closed off." Canis pointed to our left towards one of the many domes.

"Why didn't we just get Jacob and Rex to do that in the first place?"

"Too risky. That's one of the most heavily defended sections in Triton_. The engineers recognised anyone could basically sneak in using stealth technology and unload a shit tonne of troops that could take the whole research station. There's guns_ everywhere_."_

"So we're doing it instead?"

"Well... Oculus has Rex and Jacob to deal with. I'm hoping he's too distracted with them to notice us."

Me too, to be honest.

We swam towards the bay that Canis indicated. We actually had to swim slightly under the dome and upwards to a large, open segment on the underside of the station. It was dark on the surface and as we slowly paddled our way up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread flooding through my body.

When we breached the surface, only the lights from our suits pierced the darkness.

Submarines and diving suits hung from the ceiling like a macabre display of hanging corpses. They swung slowly on the industrial claws that kept them aloft, creaking loudly against some unseen wind. Canis propelled himself forward towards the edge, the soft whirring of his suit's engines the only noise in the entire chamber.

I followed, nervously leaving Behemoth behind as we entered the depths of Triton.

We both emerged from the pool, the heavy boots of our suits making me wince as they clanged loudly. With a soft hiss, the suits unlatched and we were set free of their hard, metallic confines. He and I stepped out, sweat matting my fur. I never realised I was sweating until the cool air of the facility hit me.

I plucked my sai off my suit and realised just how moronic it would have been to wield those things with such a heavy piece of armour wrapped around me. I glanced over at Canis who was taking his gun-scythe away from his own 'exoskeleton'. That seemed more practical.

"Where to?" I asked in a soft whisper.

Canis peered into the darkness. "The security station. There's one in every even numbered laboratory. I know for a fact that this is a docking back, technically 'Lab 5'. The next one over should have one. Let's go."

I followed him, his weapon opened into its scythe mode with him gripping the automatic handgun in his free paw. I won't deny it. In this light, he seemed really menacing. A real Grim Reaper. Perfect match of Jacob. I was the one holding the flashlight as he had both his paws full. I felt a little more vulnerable without both my sai in my paws but really, I had no idea how to use them.

Sierra gave me a few tips but the fact was, I just thrashed. I needed to get stronger.

"Hey... Where'd you get your military training?"

"Really?" he asked, snapping me a piercing stare. "You're going to go for small talk now? We're about to go up against one of Sierra's rogue lieutenants who probably has the whole facility under his control and god-knows what else and you're asking about my military training?"

I gave him a moment to simmer down. "Feel better?"

"Little bit." He sighed softly. "A military academy in Atlas. Wasn't good enough to go to the prime academy in Minteroca."

"Don't let it get you down. MODD may be a world-wide company but they're still racist. Won't let anyone who isn't born in their 'home country' to join the head divisions. Most of SWORD is Minterocan."

"Right... I heard. Why are you asking anyway?"

The eerie, glass tunnel that connected the dome didn't make me feel any better. I was still so much more comfortable on ground than I was in the water and even with such a thick wall of glass between us, I felt powerless.

"I'm not the best with these things," I responded, waving my paw with the sai. "I don't know why I got equipped with them but I have no idea how to use them. Sierra tried giving my some tips and I think I know them a little better but..."

"So you want to get stronger," grunted Canis. "Tell you what? After this, why don't you get Jacob to tell you about Walter?"

"I heard about Walter."

"Did he tell you he's a Rebellion spy stockpiling weapons and armour in the middle of Rillotian territory ready to teleport the Rebellion in for some chaos and mayhem?"

I paused.

"No... He did not."

"Might be something you want to bring up with him."

Lab 6 was no different than Lab 5. It was dark, unsettling and with no traces of life anywhere. Canis led us up a stairwell into what appeared to be an observation deck. When he switched on the lights, I was nearly blinded. Countless monitors blinked in front of us and he quickly seated himself in front of one, setting his weapon aside. A glass window gave us a view of the laboratory but only as far as the darkness would permit.

"Okay..." he began. "Let's see if I can do something with this..."

"You know how to hack?" I asked.

"I'm a foul-mouthed, rebellious, muscle-hunk with a problem with authority working for one of the biggest militaries in the world that isn't even government funded. What do you think?"

I gave that some thought.

"No?"

He was already typing on the screen but he still flashed me a grin over his shoulder. "How'd you guess?"

I smirked in reply and folded my arms across my chest. "You're a jock, James Canis. No way you'd know a lick about computers let alone how to hack a military-grade computer."

"Okay. Caught me. I'd prefer to bash this thing in than actually hack it. I'm just trying to navigate through folders and junk to see if I can find anything. My clearance is still pretty solid. At least Oculus didn't retract that."

I hovered over his shoulder, watching him work. He was just poking at folders looking for anything. We found some interesting pornography and what appeared to be someone peeping on girls in the shower. By the look of Canis immediately jumping to something else, I knew he was gay and seriously in love with Jacob.

"Why do you love him?" I asked.

He didn't slow down. "Because he loved me back."

I think... I think I understood. Everyone has their own ways of expressive love. For James Canis, his took the unfortunate shape of beating the object of his affection into a bloody pulp both physically and emotionally.

Tough break.

"Do you really love him or is this just because he's the first guy to actually touch your cock out of affection."

Canis spun his seat to face me, giving me an exasperated stare. "Have you ever had that feeling where something you've done feel so wrong but at the same time so right?"

"You mean like sticking a plastic cock up my vagina?" I countered. "Yeah, why?"

"That's not how I feel." He spun back towards the screens. "With him, it's all good. I feel good when I beat the snot out of him, I feel good when I fuck his brains out, I feel good when he kisses me, holds me and tells me he loves me."

"Awwww," I whispered. "If not for the first part, I'm pretty sure that would have sounded really sweet."

"Yeah. Don't tell him."

I couldn't help but smile. Holding up my paw, I said, "Okay, I promise."

After a brief pause, he out a soft 'ah' of surprise. I watched the screens. It was a recording of an encounter between Jacob and Oculus with Rex in tow. I saw their lips moving but I couldn't hear them.

"No sounds?"

"Would you believe with all the technology we have, we still can't good quality audio in our security cameras?" Canis chuckled darkly. "Oh here we go."

Oculus lifted his hands into the air and the shimmering pillar of light behind him died. A... body dropped to the floor. I could see the obscene angle of the victim's neck and I just had to wince. Suddenly, the walls began to move. Only... They weren't walls. They were... pods of some sort. Children began emerging from them.

"The Drowned?"

"Oh yeah..."

There was a further exchange of words. Jacob and Rex were forced to move forward slightly. ANVIL soldiers appeared behind them.

"Son of a bitch!" Canis exclaimed. "He's got troops with him! I bet no one really died in the attack!"

You'd think I'd be used to betrayal at this point but strangely enough, I was still surprised. Rex and Jacob exchanged glances and suddenly, they were spinning around, back to back with their swords at the ready.

The image fizzled out, replaced with bright, flashing red lights.

"Shit. We've been detected." Canis leapt out of his seat. "Let's -"

He stopped midway to turning around. I followed his gaze.

Standing a few short feet behind us, blocking the doorway, was crocodile dressed from head to toe is bright, blue armour tripped with black. On his back were five, metallic appendages that extended outwards like wings only they seemed to be shaped almost like clawed fingers.

"James Canis. Joanna Wan. I had not expected you here."

The entire station rumbled, making me stagger a little.

"Oculus," Canis snarled, snapping up his weapon.

My heart froze. I backed away from him only to realise my back was already up against the consoles and I had nowhere to run.

"Before you jump to conclusions," Oculus said, raising his clawed hand. I saw his Seal Weapon glisten in the light of the observation room. "Allow me to explain."

"I don't need your explanations!" Canis barked, shifting his weapon into its gun mode. "I know what the Drowned are! I know what they want! You are not going to sink my home!"

"Your home is world build from the bones and blood of innocent children and prettied up with flowers, fanciful pieces of art and an active night scene. That does not change the fact it was made from a terrible sin."

Oculus stepped towards us. I shone my flashlight into his face, trying to blind him but he barely paused. I had my sai in my other paw, thinking of ways to get past him. These small confines were not a good place to get into a fight especially considering his ability to manipulate darkness. That reminded me...

We had to stay in the light.

"So it's a shithole," Canis growled. "It's my shithole!"

Triton shook again.

"And how do you propose to save it, sergeant?" the lieutenant asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Angelsea sinks as we speak. Do you propose to force every child of the Drowned back into their coffins to maintain the city?"

I blinked multiple times in shock. "You freed the Drowned?" Those must have been the children I saw chasing after Jacob and Rex.

"Released and improved upon them. I altered their genetic structure so that their metabolism and regenerative abilities. They are basically like you Branded." He pointed a claw first at Canis and then me. "As long as they have the energy for it, they are immortal. And they will have infinite energy. I gave them the very Seals that they were made into."

Wait... Could you do that...?

Could you seriously give a person the very Seal that they had created through a terrible sacrifice?

What was I saying? Of course you could. Those sisters back at Pollenburn were given their Seals and they were wicked strong. That fanatical choir boy from Graesham did the same and apparently he became a -

"You made them into Unsealed..." I whispered.

"In the broadest term, yes." Oculus lifted his arms into the air. "But at the same time, they are beyond the normal Unsealed! They are mighty mortals infused with their own Seals and genetically modified their bodies to allow them to draw regenerative abilities from their Seals! They are unstoppable!"

He lowered his arms, crossing them behind his back again. "And all for justice. They were wronged. They deserve to live again and they will. But first, they must extract their vengeance from Siren."

"Who?" both Canis and I asked.

Oculus clucked his tongue. "You did not wish to listen to my explanation. So be it. Suffer from your ignorance and die never knowing." He turned his back towards us. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a war to wage."

BAM!

The crocodile was suddenly struck in the back by an enormous explosive shell and hurled straight out of the room. When he struck the wall, there was a sickening crack of his armour and a deafening explosion. My ears rang from the blast.

"Don't turn your back from me, you son-of-a-bitch," Canis growled, the barrel of Tempest smoking.

I heard the creak of armour. I didn't expect a lieutenant to go down that easily. Oculus peeled himself from the wall. Seal Armour was very resilient but it was far from indestructible. I saw cracks all across the crocodile's back and his helmet was smashed. Oculus peeled away the parts of his helm off his head, revealing blood streaking down his jaw.

"I shall keep that in mind," answered the doctor. "Let me give you a piece of advice: don't fight a shadow in the darkness."

Before I could scream a warning, the shadows around Oculus wrapped around the lieutenant. Canis let off another shot but the shell just struck the far wall. The moment the flash of fire and smoke dissipated, the shadows came shooting out of the hallway. It came lunging at us like an enormous, clawed hand.

I screamed but that died quickly in my throat. My back slammed against the hard, bulletproof glass of the observation room. For a moment, I thought it would hold but then it shattered and we were both sent careening into the lab.

Smack!

Pain exploded all over my body, my right arm in particular. My flashlight skittered across the room far away from me. Every part of my was on fire but it was a quickly dying flame. My Branded regeneration was kicking in like a soothing injection of ice that counteracted the flames. Somehow, I managed to rise to my feet even though my mind was still shaken. I think my body was running on autopilot.

The light in the observation deck went out... plunging us in total darkness save for my flashlight.

My flashlight.

I lunged for it.

It was suddenly lifted off the ground and angled straight at me.

"All mortals cast shadows. Light cannot save you."

"Joanna!"

I felt pain explode from my back, then deep in my chest before finally exploding outwards from just below my breasts. I gagged and let out a half-scream, half-choke. Black blades of pure shadow erupted from my chest, carrying my blood from it. I glanced over my shoulder, spying my the blades coming from my shadow.

We were in utter darkness.

He had the advantage!

We were surrounded by his element!

But my flashlight... With what strength I had, I reached for it...

Click.

And he switched it off, closing us in complete and utter darkness.

I could feel the cold grip of death around me like he was the very shadows and he was pressing himself upon me from all directions. When he spoke, it was like he was whispering right in my heart and I could feel his breath on every strand of fur on my body.

"There is no escape. Of that you can be assured."

BAM!

There was an explosion somewhere and a burst of light. The choking sensation eased momentarily as the flames from the explosion caught something. A small fire started, illuminating the far side of the laboratory. The shadows around me eased up and even the blades in my chest slid back though this was met by Oculus' dark chuckle.

I was allowed to fall to my knees, the light of the flames flickering around me. My regeneration was quickly closing up the wounds but it was nowhere near as fast as Jacob's. I wished for that ability. I had never been in so much pain. Every breath was a painful chore, every minute that passed a terrible test of my endurance.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

He watched Canis shoot more of his massive bullets around the room, setting various pieces of furniture alight. Flames quickly spread across the lab, giving more light and warmth but also making it harder for Oculus to hide. Not that he hoped to.

I watched him stride out of the darkness, hands clasped behind his back with a dark smile on his features. Triton shook once more and I felt Behemoth moan in worry. I sent reassuring messaging to him. I think he had breached the surface.

The surface...

We had to get to the surface!

But how...?

Canis helped me to my feet, a growl rippling from his throat.

"Admirable," Oculus said, applauding us mockingly. "However, did you forget that Darkness is not my only Element?" He pointed upwards.

The sprinklers suddenly came to life and with it my heart sank.

Except...

I straightened as well, puffing out my slightly injured chest. "And Water is mine!"

I didn't really know what I was doing but I imagined like there was a black hold around my sai, drawing every droplet of water around me to the weapon. Just like that, the pouring droplets came shooting straight towards me, forming glistening streams of water that coalesced around my weapon. Suddenly, my sai became a living, thriving weapon of pure water. I gathered the other droplets into my free paw, shaping it into an exact replica of my right-paw weapon.

Oculus just seemed pleased. "Ah! Fascinating indeed!" Around him, the shadows grew even as they flickered with the dancing flames. The pour of the sprinklers ended. I think he realised that I could control the water as much as he could.

Canis leaned towards me. "Keep him distracted. I've got an idea."

"We have to get to the surface," I told him. "We're stronger up there."

He nodded and fired three more times, setting more parts of the lab on fire.

"Are you really sure that is wise?" taunted the crocodile. "One stray shot and you could cause this whole place to collapse. I can't imagine how either of you would survive under the immense pressure of the oceans. Then again..." His shadows came shooting towards me like bladed tentacles. I threw myself to the side, rolling away as they bit into the metal floors with ease. "... you are doomed to die either way."

Canis was bolting up the stairs back into the observation room. Whatever he was planning, I hoped he'd do it soon.

"I had hoped to dissect one of you and learn how your powers worked," Oculus continued. Darkness gathered at his hands. With a lazy throw, he dropped the sphere of shadow towards me. My senses screamed and I instinctively reshaped the water around me into a protective bubble. The ball suddenly grew spikes that shot out in all directions.

The blades missed my left eye just by an inch but it still bit into my cheek. I gasped though as other spikes pierced my right arm and both my thighs. I wanted to pull away but I was pinned down. Through the shimmering surface of my watery shield, I saw Oculus grinning.

Shimmering surface...

My mind went back to Joul explaining how he manipulated light around him and used a watery surface over his body to emulate invisibility. Didn't water refract light slightly...?

Wait...

I willed the water around me to ripple very slightly. The shadows piercing my body wavered. My eyes widened. I gave a loud shout and the water undulated wildly like there was an earthquake that disturbed its surface. The shadows pinning me down were severed from Oculus' control as my shield disrupted their connection. The dissipated into nothingness and I was freed from his grip.

"Clever!" Oculus exclaimed. "But remember, I control water too." He tapped the side of his head. My shield suddenly went very still despite all my efforts to keep it rippling. "Can you keep that up?"

I didn't have to.

I collapsed the shield and hurled every droplet of water I controlled straight at Oculus. A tremendous torrent of water shaped like a fist went shooting towards the crocodile. The calm in his face fell. He was instantly consumed by the shadows around him and vanished even before my watery fist could rip him apart.

Call it some sort of hero instinct but I just knew he was behind me. I leapt aside just in time to see a black claw lash out at me, barely missing me.

"You are quick and clever," he commented, unleashing a backhanded blow at me. A blade of darkness sprang from his hands and nearly cut me in half! "You would have made a great lieutenant if you did not perish here!"

With his free paw, he thrust a blade of shadows at me. I was still in mid-step by the time I realised I was about to get a sword of darkness jammed in between my eyes. I called all the water around me back but it still had to cover the distance between where Oculus had been standing a moment ago back to me! Three seconds I didn't have!

I won't say I gave up hope but in that moment, I saw death.

Literally.

From behind Oculus, a dark, looming shadow appeared. Cloaked in darkness and sporting black, gaseous wings was the Grim Reaper. A thousand oddly positioned red eyes and demonic grins appeared across the creature's cloak. Dark tendrils sprang out and wrapped around Oculus' blade, yanking them out of his grip and consuming them in the greater darkness.

The lieutenant staggered and spun around, eyes wide.

"Nathan Shade!"

The dark figure shrank down back to normal size and the Elemental Lord of Darkness stepped out to face Oculus.

"Manfred Oculus," answered the Elemental Lord darkly. "You would have made a great lieutenant if you did not perish here."

Burned!

"Sergeant Canis!" barked the wolf. "Now!"

Suddenly, alarms blared out around us. Red lights began flashing continuously all around the lab, killing every aspect of darkness to brief flashes between the blinking lights. A door to the far right sprang open.

My heart leapt for joy when I saw both Jacob and Rex burst into the room.

"Jo!"

"Hey!" Canis shouted through the window. "I'm here too!"

Oculus snarled, eyes flashing right and left. "Outnumbered, I see." His eyes settled on Nathan. "And outgunned, it seems. Still, I am not without my tricks."

He lifted his hand into the air then performed a very low bow.

BOOOM!

An enormous, reptilian head came shooting out of the ceiling, water pouring behind him. Hydra shot into the facility, its roar enough to shake me to my core. Oculus was suddenly gone but I was less concerned about him than the rapid depressurisation of the entire lab! The walls began creaking and shaking. The metal frames snapped and began collapsed against one another. On top of that, all the water that came pouring in doused every flame in the lab, plunging us back into darkness.

A light pierced the inky blackness. I found Rex seizing my paw as Jacob held up a mighty, glowing sword.

"This way!" Canis shouted, bolting towards the exit where he had entered. "Everyone get to the subs!"

None of us argued. I scrambled after them. My heart began pounding hard in my chest. The doors to the tunnel began rapidly closing. Behind us, Hydra shoved another head through the facility while snapping at us with the one that had already breached.

BOOOM!

A third head came shooting out from my right coming right for me!

No!

I seized every ounce of water around me and shoved it straight into the Unsealed's throat. Like a waterfall I controlled, the tunnel of water just bolted straight into the creature and forced it straight back out of the lab.

The darkness of the lab was left behind us as the door shut with a deafening boom. From the corner of my eye and through the glass tunnel, I saw Behemoth charge at Hydra and tear it boldly off the facility. Leviathan came shooting towards him but he smacked it with its tail. With a thunderous roar that even I heard, Behemoth shot towards the surface, carrying Hydra with him.

"We have got to get out of here," Nathan said, nodding towards the doors. "Let's get to the docking bay. From there, we can escape."

"Wait!"

Our eyes flung towards Jacob.

"There's something I have to do first," he said. "You guys go ahead! But get everyone off Angelsea!"

"I am not leaving you!" Rex exclaimed.

"I am!" Canis exclaimed, already heading towards the exit. "Don't expect me to save your ass if you get wind up buried down here again!"

Strangely, despite the contrasting words, Jacob looked at Canis with more affection than Rex. It was like two kids with their own secret language. Except this language was based on utter distain. Cute in a way.

"Do whatever you will," Nathan said, nodding towards the docking back. "I believe these two took diving suits into this place. If you need a hasty escape, use those. Now come."

He took my paws. I expected them to be freezing cold but I was surprised when they felt utterly warm. Colour me surprised. I was being dragged into the docking bay once more with red warning lights flashing all around us.

ANVIL soldiers were waiting for us.

Nathan didn't waste a second on them. Despite all the red lightning, his shadows erupted from nowhere, big, red-eyed and flashing wicked teeth. They ripped the ANVIL soldiers to shreds and threw their bloodied pieces into the proverbial wind. His grip around my paw suddenly felt so much colder.

"We'll see you back on top," Jacob said, bolting for one of the freed exits. "Keep Hydra and Behemoth off our backs!" He swiped a few grenades from one of the fallen ANVIL soldiers before shooting down another path, his sword of light shining ahead of him. Rex was a few steps behind, shouting for us to take care.

I noted the look of longing on Canis' face. I wondered why he didn't go with him. But that look vanished a second later. "Well, anyone here know how to pilot a submarine?"

"Impossible to do with three people alone," Nathan rumbled. "But I have a better form of transportation."

Suddenly, I felt a cold grip of a hand seize my ankles. I looked down and screamed when a thousand red eyes stared back up at me, wicked grins sending chills down my spine.

Then... there was darkness...

*****

Behemoth roared.

The darkness around me peeled away and I was nearly blinded by the light of the noon sun. I cast my gaze around in shock. I was back on the surface... on the deck of the ship where the other Branded were poised... or should have been. The ship abruptly rocked on its side and I was thrown off my feet. The railings on edge of the deck slammed into my side, making me gasp in pain.

Far to my right, I saw Behemoth surfacing and slamming his massive claws into the multi-headed Hydra. Leviathan's equine form erupted from surface beside him, roaring and with its arms ready to drag down my Animus. A tremendous fireball came shooting out from somewhere behind Behemoth. I caught sight of Prometheus soaring through the air with Tayl on his shoulders. Polaris and Kerry were not too far behind, freezing the very waters beneath them and skating across the icy surface to reach the other Unsealed. Black lightning arced from somewhere a little closer to us and I noticed there were dozens of boats making their way towards the battle.

Boom!

I screamed.

A blade of darkness erupted from somewhere deep inside the ship, slicing right through metal and cutting. As the shadows subsided, Oculus was revealed standing on the deck even as the ship began to groan and peel apart into two.

"Oculus!" Nathan shouted, his own shadows rising.

Inky black water suddenly shot out of the seas and slammed into the Elemental Lord. I screamed out his name and threw myself in his path. I think I hoped to stop him from being thrown overboard but -

WHAM!

The world took spinning wildly through the air and I saw the waters come rushing towards me. I braced myself but no amount of readiness could prepare me for the cold onslaught of the icy waters and the terrifying feeling of once again being in Oculus' Element.

I breached surface, gasping for breath.

Not too far from me was a black, furry blob bobbing on the surface.

"Nathan!"

I was always a good swimmer - I guess that's why I ended up with the power over Water - and I paddled my way through the tumultuous waves towards the Elemental Lord. I knew that I had get him as far away from the sinking ship as possible or we'd both be dragged down! I wrapped my arm around his neck, keeping his head above water. Even with all my strength, I couldn't get away far enough.

The ship was sinking and we were rapidly going down with it.

"No!" I screamed but my cry quickly became a stream of bubbles as we were dragged under.

With all my strength, I tried to paddle upwards, tried to break myself free but not with one arm and Nathan pulling me down. Either I abandoned the Elemental Lord of Darkness or we both drowned. Why couldn't I have more control over my Element? Why couldn't I just force the water around us to push us back up?

I tried, I really tried imagining it but fear just kept pushing me back!

I heard Behemoth roar.

Was he encouraging me? Was he afraid?

My lungs were burning. I could still save myself...

... if I let go of Nathan.

He was a MODD soldier. Not even one of the nice ones! An Elemental Lord! If he died, no one would blame me. The Rebellion would be stronger for it...

... I shut my eyes, my salty tears joining the rest of the ocean.

I could do it... it would be so easy...

... but... I just couldn't.

Suddenly, a something pressed against my rear and pushed us back towards the surface. I opened my eyes but only saw a stream of bubbles.

Then...

Fresh air!

I gasped in relief, collapsing against something cold and furry. It took me a moment to grasp my situation.

What had saved me?

I twisted around. Heavy, leathery pads supported cushioned my weight. I rested on the massive paw of an enormous Alsatian... except he wasn't quite an Alsatian. He was like a cross between a feral horse and a dog. His upper body was a heavily muscles canine with shining blue eyes but his lower body was that of quadruped equine complete with hooves. Heavy metal armour covered his body made of gold and silver but predominantly a sea blue that shimmered like it was constantly reflecting the water. A massive chaingun was supported on the creature's right forearm while twin batteries of missile launchers were mounted on his shoulders. From what I could see, there were freakin' jetpacks placed just above his rump!

"You two okay down there!?"

I peered up.

I didn't notice just how big the creature was until I noticed James Canis, dripping wet, standing on the creature's shoulder. He was like an ant! The beast - James' Animus, I realised - lifted us up to the Branded.

James leapt off where he stood and scrambled over to Nathan. The Alsatian pressed his ear against Nathan's muzzle.

"Shit, he's not breathing. Stand back! I'm going to give him CPR!"

I had a better idea. I thought hard to what Sierra told me... How the mortal body was made predominantly of water and through that, I could control a person's body. I closed my eyes. I imagined all the water flooding through Nathan's body. I imagined his heart which was still. I imagined it beating, imagined the blood forcibly pumping through his veins and arteries. I imagined every muscle in his body back alive and forced his diaphragm to expand and contract, forcing air back into his lungs. There was still water in there so I took hold of that too, forcing it back out of his muzzle.

"What the...?"

I could feel his airways were clear so I just kept his body going... Just kept going until...

"Ack! Urgh!"

Nathan's eyes sprang open and he sat up, coughing for breath.

"You're alive!" I exclaimed, opening my eyes.

The Elemental Lord of Darkness regarded me in confusion. "I... am alive...?"

"Yeah, yeah, big whoop!" Canis shouted. "Look!"

I turned to where he was pointing. To my horror, I watched as inky darkness spread through the clear, blue ocean.

Oculus was moving towards Angelsea.

"We have to stop him!" I shouted.

Behemoth roared.

"Go," Nathan rumbled, rising to his feet. "I will bring you to Angelsea to warn Max. Sergeant Canis, will you aid the others in bringing down Hydra and Leviathan?"

For the first time in his life, Canis didn't show any defiance. "Yeah. Okay."

Nathan's eyes turned towards me. I think he knew I saved him... somehow. "Are you ready?"

I glanced towards the rising darkness spreading towards the most beautiful city in the world. "Yeah, I'm ready."

The Elemental Lord of Darkness wrapped his arms around me and the shadows began coalescing around us again. The shadows were like fear given material form but I was reminded of just how warm Nathan felt even though he had been unconscious just a few moments ago. As quickly as the shadows came, they were gone and I found myself standing in the middle of the shore in front of Eden and hundreds of ANVIL soldiers.

"Max!" I shouted, turning towards the towering Animus. "Oculus is coming! Get ready!"

There was no reply.

"Max!"

"I hear you!" came the bellowing shout. "So let go of your boyfriend and get ready already!"

I realised I was still holding onto Nathan and abruptly let go. He practically pushed me away but I caught sight of the blush on his cheeks. I just hoped he didn't see the blush on mine. But the rush of adrenaline and my heart pumping hard in my chest was a good thing. It drove me to spin towards the ocean and ready my remaining sai.

The moment I took a breath, I heard a loud metallic grinding noise coming from above us.

I turned my gaze upwards.

"The Seagate," I whispered, remembering the massive defensive structure's functionality. "It's activating!"